Damian Lillard highlights the cons of franchise-hopping by giving Russell Westbrook's example: "Grass isn’t always greener"

Damian Lillard has loyally and even stubbornly stuck with the Portland Trail Blazers. This is despite other superstars such as Russell Westbrook and James Harden changing teams. “Dame” has been in “Rip City” since he entered the NBA in 2012.

Lillard has had this to say on the notion that title-chasing determines where you should play next:

“You look at Russell Westbrook. You leave OKC for Houston, then James [Harden] decided he's leaving, now Russ is traded to D.C., then you get traded from D.C. to the Lakers, now you're on your fourth team in four years and in your second year on the team, everybody is talking about how they should trade you.

"Now you're coming off the bench. This dude is a Hall of Famer, an MVP. It's an example that the grass isn't always greener.”

Russell Westbrook built a Hall of Fame-worthy career with the OKC Thunder for 11 years. The closest he got to lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy was in 2012. Together with James Harden and Kevin Durant, Westbrook helped carry the Thunder to the franchise’s only NBA Finals appearance. They lost in six games, though, to the Miami Heat, which had LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Westbrook left Oklahoma in 2019 to team up with former teammate Harden, who left the Thunder after their failed championship bid. “Russ” is now on his fourth team (LA Clippers) after his stint in OKC. "The Beard” is playing for his third team (Philadelphia 76ers) since leaving the franchise that drafted him.

Damian Lillard, meanwhile, is in his 11th season with the Portland Trail Blazers. Portland noted and appreciated his loyalty by giving him a four-year $176.2 million deal. Unless the Blazers decide to trade him, he’s likely staying in Portland until at least the 2024-25 season.

All three aforementioned superstars have been handsomely paid but are still searching for their first NBA championship.

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Russell Westbrook and James Harden are closer to their first NBA title than Damian Lillard

Superstars jumping from one team to another hasn’t always resulted in failure. LeBron James infamously took his talents to South Beach and won two titles. Kevin Durant spurned the Thunder and grabbed two straight titles with the Golden State Warriors. KD could have won one more had he and Klay Thompson not been injured in 2019 against the Toronto Raptors.

Durant also recently moved. He asked for a trade and was shipped to the Phoenix Suns to form another super team with Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. KD may win his third championship before Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Damian Lillard.

Westbrook was moved by LA Lakers GM Rob Pelinka in a three-team trade to the Utah Jazz. He then agreed to a buyout before signing with the LA Clippers.

The Clippers are well-positioned to make a deep run in the playoffs and even come out of the tightly-contested Western Conference. They hold a 33-30 record, which puts them in fifth place in their conference.

Damian Lillard’s Portland Trail Blazers are in 11th place with a 29-31 win-loss slate. The Blazers, however, are just two games behind the Dallas Mavericks (32-30) for the coveted sixth spot and outright playoff ticket.

Portland’s roster, though, does not look like they’re built to topple the Western Conference heavyweights. This means another potential title-less season for Lillard.

James Harden is playing Robin to Joel Embiid’s Batman in Philadelphia. The 76ers (39-21) are third in the Eastern Conference, four games behind the Boston Celtics (44-18) and Milwaukee Bucks (43-17) for the top seed.

Harden and Westbrook are in solid spots to prove Damian Lillard’s comments to be a little inaccurate.